Second fire hits vacant St. John's house

For the second time in five days, firefighters from the St. John’s Regional Fire Department (SJRFD) were dispatched to 48 Spencer St. in St. John’s Sunday night. The same firefighters who fought a fire there last week were back again at the boarded-up, vacant house.

Sunday night’s 911 call came just after 7 p.m.

SJRFD Shift-Supt. Don Byrne said the fire was trapped in the house’s double roof.

“Once we opened it up and let the fire come out, we were able to get at it and extinguish it,” said Byrne, on his first evening back on duty after days off in between shifts.

"We have three stations and 17 personnel on scene and we needed everyone.”

Byrne said it's frustrating for his firefighters to be called back again, citing concerns for their safety.

“Once you come back to a fire that’s already been involved, then the questions about the structural integrity for our personnel come into question," Byrne told the media.